Powerful cyclone strikes Australia's northeast

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, Associated Press
| 6:10 a.m.Feb. 2, 2011

Guests at a the Shangri-La hotel huddle in the ballroom in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
— AP

Guests at a the Shangri-La hotel huddle in the ballroom in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Guests at a the Shangri-La hotel huddle in the ballroom in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

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Guests at a the Shangri-La hotel huddle in the ballroom in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Emergency workers and Australian Air Force personnel load a patient from local hospital onto an evacuation flight in Cairns Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, in an effort to flee from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts of around 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

Emergency workers and Australian Air Force personnel load a patient from local hospital onto an evacuation flight in Cairns Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, in an effort to flee from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts of around 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Emergency workers wheel a patient from a local hospital to a waiting evacuation flight in Cairns, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, in an effort to flee from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts of around 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

Emergency workers wheel a patient from a local hospital to a waiting evacuation flight in Cairns, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, in an effort to flee from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts of around 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Emergency workers and Australian Air Force personnel load patients from local hospitals onto an evacuation flight in Cairns, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, in an effort to flee from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts of around 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

Emergency workers and Australian Air Force personnel load patients from local hospitals onto an evacuation flight in Cairns, Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, in an effort to flee from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts of around 155 miles per hour (250 kilometers per hour). (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Chris Hinksman has a can of beer as he takes a short break from taping windows to minimize flying glass at a friend's used car dealership in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in an effort to limit damage from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

Chris Hinksman has a can of beer as he takes a short break from taping windows to minimize flying glass at a friend's used car dealership in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in an effort to limit damage from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

A police officer, left, tells a photography shop owner that there is a mandatory evacuation and she must move to a safer area in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster storm bears down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

A police officer, left, tells a photography shop owner that there is a mandatory evacuation and she must move to a safer area in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster storm bears down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

A police officer, right, tells people on the street that there is a mandatory evacuation and they must move to a safer area in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster storm bears down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

A police officer, right, tells people on the street that there is a mandatory evacuation and they must move to a safer area in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster storm bears down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

People pack a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

People pack a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

People pack a shopping mall used as an evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

People pack a shopping mall used as an evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

People pack the food court at a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

People pack the food court at a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

People pack a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

People pack a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Chris Hinksman tapes a window to minimize flying glass at a friend's used car dealership in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in an effort to limit damage from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

Chris Hinksman tapes a window to minimize flying glass at a friend's used car dealership in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in an effort to limit damage from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

Chris Hinksman tapes a window to minimize flying glass at a friend's used car dealership in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in an effort to limit damage from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

Chris Hinksman tapes a window to minimize flying glass at a friend's used car dealership in Cairns, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in an effort to limit damage from the path of a monster storm bearing down on northeastern Australia. Cyclone Yasi is forecast to hit the coast late Wednesday or early Thursday with wind gusts up to 174 mph (280 kph) are expected. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

This image provided by NASA shows Tropical Cyclone Yasi as it continues on its path toward Queensland, Australia. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image at 10:00 a.m. Queensland time (8 p.m. EST on Jan. 31, 2011). The storm extends over the Solomon Islands and grazes Papua New Guinea, upper left. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the Australian coast late Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011 after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The storm front is more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) wide and Yasi is so strong, it could reach far inland before it significantly loses power. (AP Photo/NASA - Jeff Schmaltz)— AP

+Read Caption

This image provided by NASA shows Tropical Cyclone Yasi as it continues on its path toward Queensland, Australia. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color image at 10:00 a.m. Queensland time (8 p.m. EST on Jan. 31, 2011). The storm extends over the Solomon Islands and grazes Papua New Guinea, upper left. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the Australian coast late Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011 after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The storm front is more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) wide and Yasi is so strong, it could reach far inland before it significantly loses power. (AP Photo/NASA - Jeff Schmaltz)
/ AP

A woman walks along the waterfront in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

A woman walks along the waterfront in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

People pack a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)— AP

+Read Caption

People pack a shopping mall used as a evacuation shelter in Cairns, Australia, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, as a monster cyclone approaches the northeast coast with furious winds, rains and surging seas on a scale unseen in generations. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the coast late Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
/ AP

This image provided by NASA shows Tropical Cyclone Yasi as it approaches Queensland, Australia, Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011. This NEXSAT image captured this natural-color image at 04:32 GMT Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011. The Category 5 storm is expected to make landfall at approximately noon GMT Wednesday. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the Australian coast Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The storm front is more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) wide and Yasi is so strong, it could reach far inland before it significantly loses power. (AP Photo/NASA - Jeff Schmaltz)— AP

+Read Caption

This image provided by NASA shows Tropical Cyclone Yasi as it approaches Queensland, Australia, Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011. This NEXSAT image captured this natural-color image at 04:32 GMT Wednesday Feb. 2, 2011. The Category 5 storm is expected to make landfall at approximately noon GMT Wednesday. Gusts up to 186 mph (300 kph) were expected when Cyclone Yasi strikes the Australian coast Wednesday after whipping across Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The storm front is more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) wide and Yasi is so strong, it could reach far inland before it significantly loses power. (AP Photo/NASA - Jeff Schmaltz)
/ AP

CAIRNS, Australia 
A massive cyclone struck northeastern Australia early Thursday, tearing off roofs, toppling trees and cutting electricity to thousands - the most powerful storm to hit the area in nearly a century.

The eye of Cyclone Yasi roared ashore at the small resort town of Mission Beach in Queensland state, battering the coast known to tourists as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef with heavy rain and howling winds gusting to 186 mph (300 kph).

"Vegetation has been reduced to sticks," said Sgt. Dan Gallagher, Mission Beach officer in charge.

Yasi compounded the suffering for Queensland, waterlogged by months of flooding that killed 35 people and inundated hundreds of communities. It struck an area far north of the flood zone, but the Bureau of Meteorology said its drenching rains could cause floods in new parts of the state.

The extent of property damage across Queensland was unknown just before dawn because it was still too dangerous to venture very far outside homes and evacuation centers, with strong winds and torrential rain continuing to batter towns.

No deaths or serious injuries have been reported.

About 175,000 people were without power, and restoring it would be a major priority when the storm had fully passed, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said.

"This has been ... a terrifying experience, but this morning because so many of them did take precautions, it seems that we certainly kept people safe in those centers and I'm very pleased about that," Bligh said. "The early news is not anything like I expected to hear this morning. ... I do stress in many cases we are yet to see any assessments."

More than 10,000 people fled to 20 evacuation centers in a danger zone stretching 190 miles (300 kilometers), amid strong warnings in the past two days. Many others moved in with family or friends in safer locations. Still, authorities prepared for the worst, including serious damage devastation and possible deaths.

Witnesses reported roofs being ripped off, buildings shaking and trees flattened under the power of the winds. Officials said the storm surge would flood some places to roof level.

"This is a cyclone of savagery and intensity," Prime Minister Julia Gillard said in a nationally televised news conference as the storm moved toward the coast. "People are facing some really dreadful hours in front of them."

The storm's front was about 300 miles (500 kilometers) across, with the worst of the winds expected to lash the coast for up to four hours, although blustery conditions and heavy rain could last for a day.

"It's such a big storm - it's a monster, killer storm," Bligh had said Wednesday, adding that the only previous cyclone measured in the state at such strength was in 1918. "This impact is likely to be more life-threatening than any experienced during recent generations."

In the city of Cairns, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Mission Beach and about 1,700 miles (2,730 kilometers) north of Sydney, guests at a waterfront hotel took cover in the central ballroom as lights flickered. Staff members handed out flashlights and pinned curtains shut over windows in danger of shattering.

Tourist Barbara Maskei, 49, of Germany, lay on the ballroom floor under a sheet reading a book, as her 20-year-old daughter, Annette, and husband, Peter, dozed beside her. For her, there would be no sleep. "I like to keep my eyes open," she said as the wind roared outside.

The staff distracted people from the storm by playing the movie "Music and Lyrics" on a giant screen. Some tried to sleep through the noise of the movie, wailing children and loud conversations.

In Innisfail, a town about 55 miles (90 kilometers) south of Cairns that was nearly in the direct path of the storm, Mayor Bill Shannon said he saw the roof torn off near the local government building where about 500 people were sheltered.

"We're just hoping and praying we can all get through the night," Shannon said.

In nearby Tully, resident Ross Sorbello described feeling his house shake from the wind.

"The wind and rain outside are howling; it's a horrible sound," he said.

Storm surges of at least 6.5 feet (2 meters) were likely and would almost certainly cause coastal flooding, forecasters said, adding that up to 28 inches (700 millimeters) of rain could fall within hours in some areas.

At highest risk was an area about 150 miles (240 kilometers) long between Cairns and the sugar cane-growing town of Ingham, the bureau said. The storm was forecast to continue inland at cyclone strength for two days and gradually weaken. It was unclear what the damage to the Great Barrier Reef would be, experts said.

State disaster coordinator Ian Stewart said just one emergency call had been received - from six people in their 60s who feared their apartment in the resort town of Port Hinchinbrook would be swamped by the storm surge. They were told to wait it out because it was too dangerous for emergency workers to try to reach them, Stewart said, and they were reported safe Thursday morning.

Queensland officials warned people for days to stock up on bottled water and food, and to board or tape up their windows. People in low-lying or exposed areas were told to evacuate.

Warnings stretched as far away as Townsville, which is slightly larger than Cairns and about 190 miles (300 kilometers) to the south, and Mount Isa, about 500 miles (800 kilometers) inland.

Australia's huge, sparsely populated tropical north is battered annually by about six cyclones - called typhoons throughout much of Asia and hurricanes in the Western hemisphere. Building codes have been strengthened since Cyclone Tracy devastated the city of Darwin in 1974, killing 71 in one of Australia's worst natural disasters.